Sturgeon pledges to listen to children in care
Adam Offord
Monday, September 26, 2016
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to listen to 1,000 young people with experience of care in a bid to make "meaningful" and "lasting change" to the care system.
Her pledge came at the launch of the 1,000 voices manifesto by Who Cares? Scotland in Glasgow, which called on the First Minister to listen to care experienced young people and to take action.
?Sturgeon said that children and young people are the "best advocates for change" and she was delighted to commit to listening to young people.??
The Scottish government will now work with the charity and other partners over the next two years to gather the 1,000 stories.
??"I've heard today some powerful stories of incredible strength and success in the most adverse of circumstances," Sturgeon said.
??"Every person will have a different experience and over the next two years, I'll spend time meeting many more young people or hearing their stories.
"By listening more to our young people, and by hearing what works and how the care system can improve, we'll be able to make meaningful, lasting change and ensure children in care get the same support, stability and life chances that the rest of us take for granted."
The Children & Young People (Scotland) Act was introduced in 2014, which set out several changes to how children and young people should be cared for, after the Scottish parliament listened to care experienced young people.?
?Duncan Dunlop, chief executive of Who Cares? Scotland said: "The Scottish government, when passing the Children and Young People Act, did something that had never been done by any government in the world.
??"They engaged with care experienced people, listened to their stories, and made legislation that addressed the realities of what it's like to leave care.
"As the most senior corporate parent in Scotland, the First Minister has now set the tone. ??
"Decisions can't and shouldn't be made without listening to care experienced people."??
A spokesperson for the Scottish Children's Services Coalition - an alliance of independent and third sector service providers - added: "This builds on the positive legislation the Scottish government has already introduced, through the Children and Young People Act, which improved the lives of children and young people leaving care.?
"These young people represent some of the most vulnerable members of our society, with considerably poorer life chances than those who have not been in care.
"Through this process we can look at what improvements are required to be made to the care system, to give these young people the best possible start in life."?
